Material Insights: Nov. 21, 2011

Bayer AG's opening of a polyurethane feedstock plant in Shanghai is featured in this week's Material Insights video. The new plant makes TDI and is the first ever to use gas-phase phosgenation technology, which can reduce solvent consumption and cut energy use. BioAmbers plans for a Wall Street IPO also are covered in the video. Minneapolis-based BioAmber makes bio-based succinic acid, which can be used as aplasticizer feedstock. The firm hopes to raise as much as $150 million via the IPO. A. Schulman's decision to exit its Sunprene thermoplastic elastomer joint venture with Mitsubishi Chemical also is covered. The video wraps up with news that the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has awarded a patent to Polyflow LLC for its pyrolysis technology, which allows for mixed plastic and rubber scrap to be converted into fuels and chemical intermediates. Polyflow is based in Akron, Ohio.